Dear LitWorld Friend,
Greetings from our headquarters in New York City! From where we are, the leaves are beginning to take on the warm hues of autumn, ushering in the new season. It's a wonderful time to renew our energy as we prepare for the last quarter of the year.
As the season turns, we find it fitting to welcome new changes to our team. We’re grateful to every community member who has contributed to the past, present and future of LitWorld, and we look forward to this next stage of growth.
Read on to learn how our LitWorld team is evolving:
Congratulations to Amber Peterson On Her New Role As Chief Program Officer!
We are thrilled to celebrate our colleague Amber Peterson’s new promotion!
As Chief Program Officer, Amber will continue to oversee the creation, maintenance, and revision of new programs, projects and curriculum, and the development of the LitWorld pedagogy and brand. She will also oversee all of our program partnerships and steward our programming relationships with external stakeholders.
Amber holds a Bachelor’s Degree in English Literature, Theater, and Geology from Oberlin College, and a Masters in Education from St. John's University. Before LitWorld, she worked as a public school teacher, educational consultant, and educational coach in the United States and abroad. She is a passionate advocate of equity and social change and has been an active member of several organizations that work for educational reform.
“I am overjoyed to announce that LitWorld's long-time and greatly valued Director of Program Innovation, Amber Peterson, has been elevated to Chief Program Officer. Amber has overseen the development and growth of our New York City programs while continuing to deepen the programs and relationships LitWorld has around the world. She has been and continues to be the heart of LitWorld, and I could not be more proud to work by her side. I am looking forward to seeing the many successes she'll bring to the organization as our Chief Program Officer!”
– Caitlin M. Cassaro, LitWorld Executive Director
Welcoming Catalina Gutierrez, NYC LitClub Mentor
We are excited to welcome Catalina Gutierrez as LitWorld's new LitClub Mentor in NYC!
Catalina will be spearheading LitClub programming at The Angelo Patri School in the Bronx, among other sites, as we expand our reach across the city. She is a multidisciplinary visual artist and educator based in New York.
She received her formal education in Latin America, where she studied Fine Arts and Sociology, and continued her studies in Media Arts at Hunter College. Catalina writes, produces, and directs both fiction and documentaries, focusing on the political and poetic processes of image-making. Her artwork addresses themes of authorship and representation, often collaborating with disadvantaged communities.
As the founder of the Art of Mindfulness Center, she provides transformative experiences that foster well-being and connection. Catalina is passionate about developing art practices that reflect the vast potential of the human experience. We look forward to her creative contributions to our LitClub programs.
Meet Our New Board Members
We are thrilled to add Brenda Joy Gilmore and Ben Wilsker to our Board of Directors!
Brenda Joy Gilmore is an Independent Consultant, Certified Professional Coach, and proud owner of BJGsolutions. She also holds the position of Director of People & Culture with Gin & Luck, Inc. The majority of Brenda’s volunteerism has been led by her passion to nurture and champion children, so her appointment to the LitWorld Board of Directors allows her opportunity to achieve one of her long-awaited goals of being a blessing to children around the world.
Ben Wilsker is Vice President at WE Communications, an independent communications agency based in Seattle. He leads Microsoft’s data centers and sustainability agency PR team, shaping how one of the world’s largest companies tells its story. He has an MA in Classics from the University of Edinburgh and lives in Brooklyn with his wife and dog.
Thank you, Brenda and Ben, for your support in growing our mission!
Gratitude to Gigi Verkaik
We say goodbye to Gigi Verkaik, LitWorld's Director of Development & Communications. Having moved upstate, she will be looking for local opportunities within her field of expertise. We are thankful for Gigi's hard work at LitWorld, and wish her much luck in her next chapter!
Join Us
As always, we welcome our greater community to engage and get involved with our mission. Visit our website to learn more about how you can get involved.